7/28/2019 1966 Impala vs 1996 Impala SS
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FinalPaper #50003A/DarrBased on pages 88-98
1966 Impala vs. 1996 Impala SS
It is hard to believe how the Impala has changed over the last
thirty years. It went from a step up from an average car to what it
is now, a full sizeluxury car with all of the options. Chevrolet
built the Impala in 1966 with very little standard options. It came
with a bench seat, AM Radio, lapsafety belts, 283 cubic inch V-8,
and manual transmission. They did not construct the car with any
form of emission system. The federal government did not require car
companies to equip the car with emissions systems until 1968. The
emission systems helped to reduce pollution emitted from the car.
During the mid-sixties, engines started to get bigger and more
powerful. One option for the Impala was the Super Sport model, more
widely known as the SS. This option gave thecar a 396 cu. in.
engine, four speed manual transmission, heavier duty suspension and
all of the SS insignias. If you were buying any car in 1966 you
could order it with each individual option that you wanted.
They built the Impala SS in 1996 with many standard options. It
came with bucket seats, a console, automatic transmission, shifter
on the floor, leathe
r seats, seventeen inch aluminum rims, all season radials, and
the LT1 engine(commonly in the Corvette). This car was built with
all kinds of safety equipment,emission systems, and a computer to
control the entire car. The emission system on the car is approved
for 1998 emission standards. The safety equipment on the Impala SS
is lap/shoulder seat belts, dual air bags, and crumple zones.
Thecomputers on today's new cars control the engine, the fuel
injection, the emission systems, the air bags, the transmission,
the cooling system, the instrument gauges and all of the warning
lights. On the 1996 Impala SS, the options came inpackages. If you
just wanted air conditioning with the car, you would have tobuy the
package with air conditioning included. The car companies devised
putting options into packages so they could produce many identical
cars and still cansell them with some guarantee.
The 1966 Impala was designed very differently than the 1996
Impala SS.
In 1966, the Impala was built with a steel frame and metal body
panels. This design made the car very strong and durable that is
one main reason you see many old cars still in running today. Cars
were also built with chrome. You do not see that on many new cars.
The 1966 Impala, I think they built it with style, class and
sophistication. In 1966, you could go to your local new car dealer
andpick up an Impala for around 2800 dollars. The car companies did
not think about aerodynamics and did not worry about the fuel
economy of the cars. The 1966 Impala got about ten miles to the
gallon on the highway. At the time they builtthe 1966 Impala fuel
cost was not high it was about 39 cents a gallon.
In 1996, the Impala SS was built with a frame and body panels.
The bodypanels are made from steel, plastic, or fiberglass. Cars
are being designed to be more aerodynamic, weigh less, look more
appealing and not to rust. I think, General Motors did a very good
job with bringing back the Impala SS, it lives up
to its name. It has a sophisticated look and a lot of power. If
you wanted tobuy a new Impala SS, you would have to pay
approximately 22,000 dollars. It isa very big difference from what
an Impala cost thirty years ago. The Impala SSgets about 23 miles
per gallon on the highway. The fuel cost has really gone upfrom
thirty years ago. It is now anywhere from $1.10 to $1.40.
Over the past thirty years the Impala has changed in many ways.
It started as a new model for the Bel-Air version of the Chevy. Now
the Impala is a sophisticated, fast, luxury car that has appeal to
everyone. The 1996 Impala SS is the last year Chevy will be selling
the car.
